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Here are your science education resources and announcements for the week of March 20, 2016 provided by the Michigan Science Matters Network. Please forward this eBlast on to other science educators in your school/district. If you have questions or comments, please forward them to:

March 31, 2016: Deadline for Teachers in Grades 6 - 9 to apply for the FREE “Dynamic Response at Asteroids, the Moon, and moons of Mars” Workshop for Educators to be held July 11 - 15, 2016 at NASA’s Goddard Flight Facility Please visit:

April 1, 2016: Deadline for Middle School and High School Teachers to apply for the “Arctic Plant Phenology Learning Through Engaged Science (APPLES) Climate Workshop to be held July 25 - 29 at Penn State University in University Park, PA. Lodging and meals included as well as travel. Up to $1000 in Stipends available. Please visit:

April 12, 2016: Deadline to apply for the Central Michigan Science, Mathematics, Technology Center (SMTC) at Central Michigan University (CMU), 2015-2016 STEM Education Grants Program. K-12 Teachers are invited to apply. They anticipate funding approximately 30 awards under $7,500 and 4 awards up to $21,000, from across Michigan. Please visit:

April 18, 2016: Deadline for K-12 Teachers to register for the FREE USPTO National Summer Teacher Institute on Innovation, STEM and Intellectual Property at Michigan State University in East Lansing. Please visit:

May 31, 2016: Deadline for Middle School and High School Teachers to apply for the “NEWBio BBEP Renewable Energy Teacher Summer Workshop on Bioenergy and Bioproducts” July 11 – 15 at Penn State University at University Park, PA. Expenses provided and $300 Stipend Available. Please visit:

A panel of Michigan and nationally recognized experts in science and literacy joined to create the following statements of belief, consistent with research, about instruction in literacy and science in grades K-3:

New Science Standards Are An Opportunity

Science Instruction Nearly Every Day

Literacy Throughout the Day

Involvement in Investigation of Natural Phenomena and Complex Problems for ALL Students

El Niño and La Niña are important phenomena that can impact the climate by causing global flooding and droughts as well as changes in seasonal weather. These interactions around the world are called teleconnections. Because of the importance of this issue, a GLOBE ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) Campaign has been formulated to engage students in determining where and how much El Niño affects local places and to put students in contact with their local environment. To learn more about the campaign and how to participate, visit http://www.globe.gov/web/el-nino/el-nino-campaign.

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The Strange and Surprising History of Daylight Saving Time

The practice of moving our clocks twice a year is awash with colorful characters and strange-but-true tales. Learn more from reading this exciting article from National Geographic:

Sample Sets for the Spring 2016 M-STEP for students in grades 3–8, and 11 are a select group of test items in English language arts (ELA), mathematics, science, and social studies that encompass different item types, such as multiple choice, constructed response, and various kinds of technology-enhanced items. The sets provide students practice in solving grade-level and content-specific test items aligned to Michigan’s content standards. Educators and students can access the online Sample Item Sets using a Chrome browser: